How to Store and Care for Your Markers, Pens, and Inkpads

Quick answer

Store markers horizontally or tip-down so ink stays at the nib, keep inkpads closed and away from heat and direct sun, and rehydrate a drying pad with a few drops of matching ink or water before you replace it. If a marker nib is frayed or an inkpad pad is torn, stop trying to fix it and replace the tool.

Colour tools fail in predictable ways, and almost every failure traces back to storage or handling. A marker that skips, an inkpad that stamps pale, a pen that scratches instead of glides — these are usually symptoms, not random bad luck.

This guide separates the symptom from the likely cause and gives you a corrective action, plus the point where repair stops making sense. The habits below apply whether you keep a small marker wallet or a full shelf of inkpads.

Why markers dry out and how to stop it

Most markers dry out because the cap was left off, the marker was stored tip-up so ink drained away from the nib, or the barrel was exposed to heat. Store markers horizontally or tip-down in a marker wallet, Storage Box, or Store & Clip Pod. Keep them out of direct sunlight and away from radiators. If a marker has a dual nib, check both caps are clicked shut after every use.

For a marker that is starting to skip, try the marker drying out fix before you bin it: hold the nib against a scrap of paper and press gently to draw ink down, or stand the marker tip-down for an hour. If the nib is frayed, flattened, or the barrel feels empty, that is your stopping point — replace the marker rather than fighting it. A replacement nib or a fresh marker costs less than the frustration of a scratchy line.

• Store markers horizontally or tip-down, never tip-up for long periods.
• Cap immediately after use; listen for the click on dual-ended markers.
• Keep markers out of hot cars, sunny windowsills, and beside heat tools.

Inkpad care: keep pads juicy and stamping clean

Inkpads dry out when the lid is left open, when they sit in direct sun, or when the pad is over-inked in one spot. Close the lid firmly after every stamping session. If a pad looks dry, add two or three drops of matching reinker or distilled water across the surface, wait a few minutes, then test on scrap paper. Do not flood the pad — too much liquid makes stamps blur.

Clean stamps before they touch a different colour, and avoid pressing a dirty stamp into a light inkpad. Store inkpads flat, lid-side up, so ink distributes evenly. If the pad surface is torn, compressed into a hollow, or the ink has separated and will not re-mix, that pad is past saving. Replace it rather than contaminating your stamps with a damaged surface.

• Add reinker or distilled water in small drops, then test on scrap.
• Store inkpads flat and lid-side up, away from heat and light.
• Replace a pad with a torn or hollowed surface instead of over-inking it.

Pen care beyond markers

Gel pens, paint markers, and metallic markers need slightly different handling. Paint markers and metallic markers can clog at the tip if left uncapped, so wipe the nib on scrap paper after use and cap tightly. Gel pens are sensitive to air; store them horizontally and avoid leaving them in a hot craft bag. If a gel pen skips, try writing a few loops on scrap paper before assuming it is empty.

A pen that scratches, leaks, or has a bent tip is a replacement, not a repair project. Keep a small Marker Wallet or Storage Bag for pens you carry to classes so they are not rolling loose in a tote. The goal is simple: protect the nib, control the temperature, and keep air away from the ink.

• Wipe paint and metallic marker nibs on scrap before capping.
• Store gel pens horizontally and keep them out of hot bags.
• Retire pens with bent, leaking, or scratching tips.

Storage that actually protects colour tools

Horizontal storage is the single best habit for markers and pens. A Marker Wallet, Storage Box, or Store & Clip Pod keeps them flat and dust-free. For inkpads, a Stash & Store or Storage Bag keeps lids closed and pads flat. If you use divider pockets, label them so you can find a colour without pulling everything out — every time you open a marker, you expose it to air.

Temperature matters as much as orientation. A cool, dark drawer beats a sunny shelf. If you craft near a window, move your marker storage to a cupboard or use an opaque Storage Box. Check your stash every few months: test a few markers and inkpads on scrap, rehydrate what needs it, and pull out anything that has failed so it does not sit in the rotation.

• Store markers horizontally in a wallet, box, or pod.
• Keep inkpads flat, closed, and out of direct sun.
• Audit your stash every few months and remove failed tools.

Marker and inkpad problem diagnosis

• Marker skips or writes pale: Likely cause: stored tip-up, cap left off, or ink drained away from the nib. Press the nib gently on scrap paper and stand the marker tip-down for an hour. If it still skips after that, the barrel is low or the nib is worn — replace it.
• Inkpad stamps faint or patchy: Likely cause: lid left open, heat exposure, or uneven ink. Add two or three drops of matching reinker or distilled water, wait, and test on scrap. If the pad surface is torn or hollowed, stop rehydrating and replace the pad.
• Paint or metallic marker clogs: Likely cause: ink dried at the tip after use. Wipe the nib on scrap paper, recap tightly, and store horizontally. If the tip is bent or leaking, that marker is done — do not keep using it on projects.

Products that help with storage and care

• 4X6 Tabbed Divider Pockets – 5 Pockets: These 4x6 File Pockets are designed to work in the 4x6 Fab File and include five plastic pocket folders and five adhesive labels, sized for organising 4x6 paper, photos, stencils, stamps, and dies. Labelled pockets reduce the time your markers and inkpads sit open while you hunt for a colour, which directly limits air exposure.
• Crafters Companion - Stamp & Die Set - Reach for the Sky: The set includes 9 stamps and 4 dies, with separate character dies you can use as single embellishments. Keeping stamps and their matching dies together in labelled storage means you stamp and clean up faster, so inkpads get closed sooner.

Store markers horizontally, close every lid, keep inkpads flat and cool, and rehydrate before you replace. When a nib is frayed or a pad is torn, stop repairing and swap it out. Those habits alone will keep your colour tools working longer and stamping true.